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Montana reaches six months of unemployment below 3%

Montana reaches six months of unemployment below 3%

— by Micah Drew, Daily Montanan
April 22, 2025

With an unemployment rate of 2.7% in March, down from 2.8% last month, Montana has now seen six straight months of rates under 3%.

The governor’s office and Department of Labor and Industry continue to praise the low seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, the third stint below 3% since the Federal Reserve began measuring the rate in the 1970s.

Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Montana saw an unemployment rate below 3% for two full years from October 2021 to October 2023.

It ticked up slightly from then to 3.1% in December of that year, before slowly ticking down. March marked the 45th consecutive month of unemployment at or below 3.4%.

“For six months, Montana’s unemployment rate has remained below 3%, with nearly two job openings for every unemployed worker,” Gov. Greg Gianforte said in a press release. “Through our efforts to lower taxes and remove red tape, we’ve have created an environment that empowers entrepreneurs and businesses to invest and create good-paying jobs for Montanans across our state.”

The unemployment was 1.5% lower than the national rate, which came in at 4.2% in March. The state’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 3.0% ranks 5th in the U.S. 

The state said the labor force in Montana decreased by 572 workers last month. Data shows the state has added 1,500 payroll jobs over the last month.

Forty-four of the state’s counties currently have unemployment rates below 4%, and 19 of them have seen net job gains over the last year year, according to data from the Department of Labor and Industry.

Gallatin County has seen the largest drop in employment over the last year with 348 fewer people employed this year compared to last. Missoula county, however, has seen the most growth with 860 additional people becoming employed.

Unemployment rates remain higher on the state’s seven Native American reservations – ranging from a non-seasonally adjusted rate of 4.7% on the Flathead Indian Reservation up to 13.1% on Rocky Boy’s reservation. All seven reservations have seen net job decreases in the last year.

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Daily Montanan is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com.

Bavarian Cream Donuts

Bavarian Cream Donuts

These Bavarian Cream Donuts are a delightful treat, filled with a smooth, rich Bavarian cream that makes them incredibly indulgent. I can never resist biting into one, with the sweet cream oozing out. If you’re craving something light yet decadent, these are the donuts you need in your life.

Ingredients:

For the Donut Dough:

2 ¼ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast

½ cup warm milk (110°F/45°C)

3 cups all-purpose flour

¼ cup granulated sugar

½ tsp salt

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

Vegetable oil (for frying)

For the Bavarian Cream Filling:

2 cups whole milk

½ cup granulated sugar, divided

4 large egg yolks

¼ cup cornstarch

1 tbsp unsalted butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup heavy cream, whipped to soft peaks

For the Sugar Coating:

½ cup granulated sugar (or powdered sugar for dusting)

Directions:

Activate Yeast:

In a small bowl, combine warm milk and yeast. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.

Make Dough:

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. Add yeast mixture, eggs, vanilla, and softened butter. Mix until a soft dough forms. Knead for 8-10 minutes (by hand or with a stand mixer) until smooth and elastic.

First Rise:

Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.

Prepare Bavarian Cream:

Heat milk and ¼ cup sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming (do not boil).

In a bowl, whisk egg yolks, remaining ¼ cup sugar, and cornstarch until smooth.

Slowly pour hot milk into the yolk mixture, whisking constantly.

Return mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring, until thickened (about 2-3 minutes).

Remove from heat, stir in butter and vanilla. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap (touching the surface), and chill for 2 hours.

Once chilled, fold in whipped heavy cream to make the Bavarian cream. Keep refrigerated.

Shape Donuts:

Punch down the risen dough and roll it out to ½-inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut into 3-inch rounds using a donut cutter or round cutter. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover, and let rise for 30-45 minutes.

Fry Donuts:

Heat 2-3 inches of vegetable oil in a deep pot to 350°F (175°C). Fry donuts in batches, 1-2 minutes per side, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

Coat Donuts:

While warm, roll donuts in granulated sugar or dust with powdered sugar.

Fill Donuts:

Once cooled, use a piping bag fitted with a small round tip to inject Bavarian cream into the side of each donut. Fill until the donut feels slightly heavy.

Serve:

Enjoy immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 day.

Signs of Hope for Christianity in America

Signs of Hope for Christianity in America

Despite challenges such as declining church attendance and cultural shifts, there are several signs of hope for Christianity in America, suggesting potential revitalization and growth.

After years of decline, the percentage of Americans identifying as Christian has stabilized between 60% and 64% since 2019, according to Pew Research. This stabilization is seen as a positive sign after decades of waning numbers.

Preliminary data from Barna Group suggests weekly church attendance may be increasing, rising from 28% in 2024 to a projected 32% in 2025. This marks a potential reversal of a long-term decline.

Notably, men are now attending church at higher rates than women for the first time in decades.

There is evidence of a resurgence of faith among younger generations. For example, more Gen Z men are identifying as Christian than women, reversing historical trends.

College campuses have seen spiritual awakenings, with hundreds of students being baptized and engaging in faith-based activities.

More signs of hope have seen Bible sales surge by 22% in 2024, and religious apps like Hallow have topped charts along with wildly popular productions like ‘The Coming Convergence‘ and ‘Left Behind‘, indicating growing interest in faith-based resources.

Podcasts such as “Bible in a Year” have consistently ranked highly, showing an appetite for spiritual content even among non-churchgoers.

Some religious leaders interpret current events as the beginning of a “Fourth Great Awakening,” driven by disillusionment with secular ideologies and a desire for moral and spiritual anchors.

The role of Christianity in shaping public morality and cultural renewal is increasingly recognized, with many Americans turning to faith amidst societal instability.

Signs of hope at the congregational level include leaders committed to preaching the Bible, evangelizing, and fostering community outreach. Churches that embrace these practices often experience revitalization.

Christian colleges have reported record enrollment growth despite overall declines in higher education attendance. This trend reflects renewed interest in faith-based education and values.

These developments suggest that while challenges remain, there is renewed energy and engagement with Christianity across various demographics and platforms in here in the U.S..

A part of this recent renewed interest in the faith may have something to do with how churches across the country are presenting themselves to the general public at large.

Turnaround Churches

The belief in Jesus as Lord profoundly influenced the priorities of turnaround congregations by shaping their mission, practices, and community dynamics. Here are the key ways this belief impacted their focus:

Centering on Worship and Exalting Christ

Turnaround churches prioritized worship as a way to exalt Jesus as Lord. Acts 2:47 and other passages inspired these congregations to create spaces for praising God, emphasizing that worship was not just a ritual but a response to Christ’s lordship.

Communion and remembrance of Christ’s death and resurrection became central practices, reflecting obedience to Jesus’ command to honor His sacrifice.

Renewed Focus on Evangelism

These congregations embraced the mission of proclaiming the gospel, often inspired by the early church’s example of preaching Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. They saw themselves as standing in Christ’s place to deliver His message to their communities.

Sharing the gospel became a primary expression of living for Christ rather than for themselves, aligning with Jesus’ mission of reconciliation and kingdom-building.

Building Unity Across Differences

Belief in Jesus as Lord fostered unity among diverse groups within the church, breaking down cultural, ethnic, and social barriers. Turnaround churches often mirrored the early church’s ability to bring together people from different backgrounds to worship and serve together in harmony.

This unity was seen as a testimony to Christ’s power and a reflection of His kingdom values.

Dependence on Prayer and the Holy Spirit

Recognizing Jesus as Lord led these churches to prioritize prayer and reliance on the Holy Spirit for guidance and empowerment. This dependence mirrored Jesus’ own priorities during His earthly ministry.

Commitment to Teaching and Discipleship

Turnaround congregations emphasized teaching Scripture with intensity and accuracy, seeing it as essential for equipping believers to live under the lordship of Christ. They devoted themselves to discipleship, helping members grow in faith and obedience.

Radical Generosity and Community Support

Inspired by the early church in Acts 2, these congregations practiced radical generosity, sharing resources and supporting one another’s needs. This reflected their belief in living out Christ’s love and serving others as an act of obedience to Him.

By aligning their priorities with Jesus’ mission and teachings, these churches experienced revitalization, demonstrating how belief in Jesus as Lord can transform both individuals and communities.

Wild weather and the beauty of it all

Wild weather and the beauty of it all

Wild weather is a spectacle of nature’s raw power and artistry colliding.

See video:
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This video is from the @FrancisFSS11 Youtube channel and the accompanying music is called Sansa from Gereth Emery.

The events depicted in the video showcase the immense power of nature’s extremes — often catastrophic but also awe-inspiring in their scale and impact.

Think towering thunderstorms with lightning veins splitting the sky, or blizzards cloaking the world in silence and white. Hurricanes churn oceans into froth, their spiral arms mesmerizing from space.

Tornadoes dance with chaotic grace, carving paths of awe and destruction. Even gentler moments, like a rainbow arcing through a post-storm haze or the golden glow of a dust storm at sunset, hit you with beauty that feels alive.

It’s humbling.

Weather doesn’t care about our plans — it just is. The thrill comes from its unpredictability, the way a clear day can flip to a deluge or a quiet night erupts into a meteor shower.

Scientists track it with radar and models (like the GFS or ECMWF, churning terabytes of data), but no prediction nails it perfectly. That untamed edge keeps us chasing — storm hunters with cameras (as shown in this video), or just folks staring out windows, caught by the show.

Weather represents a paradox: it sustains life but can also bring destruction. This duality is evident in how storms sculpt landscapes or how rain nourishes ecosystems while sometimes causing floods.

The unpredictability of weather often evokes a sense of wonder and humility, reminding us of nature’s vast power and intricate beauty.

In essence, “wild weather” is not just a force to be reckoned with but also a source of inspiration, creativity, and scientific curiosity.

Montana Board of Hail Insurance approves refunds

Montana Board of Hail Insurance approves refunds

The Montana Board of Hail Insurance has approved a 10% refund on premiums paid by farmers who purchased state hail insurance in 2024.

This decision was made during the board’s spring meeting in March 2025 after reviewing the actuarial report. The refunds apply to policies issued by the Montana Department of Agriculture, which covered 308,635 acres across 37 counties through 262 policies in 2024.

Additionally, the board decided to maintain the same premium rates for hail insurance in 2025 as those charged in 2024. The board is composed of agricultural producers and state officials, including Chair William Von Bergen, Vince Mattson, Jim Schillinger, Montana Department of Agriculture Director Jillien Streit, and Montana State Auditor James Brown.

The approval of the 10% refund by the Montana Board of Hail Insurance likely involved several key factors, drawing parallels from general refund program principles observed in other contexts:

Actuarial Analysis:

The board’s review of the 2024 actuarial report likely identified a surplus in the premium pool, enabling refunds without jeopardizing financial stability. This mirrors the FTC’s approach of assessing available funds before distributing refunds.

Administrative Feasibility:

With 262 policies covering 308,635 acres, the program’s manageable scale likely reduced administrative costs, similar to how the FTC prioritizes efficient distribution mechanisms.

Pro Rata Distribution:

The refund’s flat percentage aligns with common pro rata models (e.g., FTC cases), ensuring equitable distribution based on premiums paid.

Stakeholder Input:

The board’s composition, including agricultural producers and state officials, suggests a balance between industry expertise and regulatory oversight, fostering decisions that reflect both fiscal responsibility and farmer needs.

Stable Premium Rates for 2025:

Maintaining unchanged rates for 2025 may have provided financial predictability, allowing the board to allocate surplus funds from 2024 without adjusting future revenue streams.

These factors collectively align with best practices for refund programs, emphasizing actuarial soundness, administrative efficiency, and stakeholder consensus.

For more information about state hail insurance or the Montana Board of Hail Insurance, please contact the Montana Department of Agriculture Hail Specialist at (406) 444-2402, by email at agr@mt.gov, or by visiting agr.mt.gov online.

The Montana Department of Agriculture is serving Montana Agriculture and growing prosperity under the Big Sky. For more information on department programs and services, visit agr.mt.gov.